Ojo in Oz (Wonderful Oz Books, No 27) (Oz, No 27)

Rating:
Summary: One of Thompson's best Oz books
Review: Like some of Ruth Plumly Thompson's other Oz books, this one is partially based on a mystery left behind by L. Frank Baum. In THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ, he mentions that Ojo's uncle (and presumably Ojo himself) is related to the ancient Kings of the Munchkins, but he never really does anything with this idea. Thompson, on the other hand, uses it as the basis for one of her most exciting stories, with Ojo caught up in a plot by one of the scariest villains in Oz. As the other reviewer said, this book a good deal of character development, mostly involving the bandit Realbad. This robber is torn between protecting his new-found friend Ojo, and trading the boy in for a huge reward. Realbad also has an interesting secret, which is revealed towards the end. There seems to be a greater sense of danger in this book than in many Oz books, with the characters up against two monsters, a band of unfortunately stereotypical gypsies, and several other threats. Most of these dangers are rather easily overcome, though, so I doubt the book would come across as scary. This book also gives us some history of the Munchkin Country of Oz. Overall, this is one of the best Oz books, and well worth reading to anyone who enjoys the series.

Rating:
Summary: One of Thompson's best Oz books
Review: Like some of Ruth Plumly Thompson's other Oz books, this one is partially based on a mystery left behind by L. Frank Baum. In THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ, he mentions that Ojo's uncle (and presumably Ojo himself) is related to the ancient Kings of the Munchkins, but he never really does anything with this idea. Thompson, on the other hand, uses it as the basis for one of her most exciting stories, with Ojo caught up in a plot by one of the scariest villains in Oz. As the other reviewer said, this book a good deal of character development, mostly involving the bandit Realbad. This robber is torn between protecting his new-found friend Ojo, and trading the boy in for a huge reward. Realbad also has an interesting secret, which is revealed towards the end. There seems to be a greater sense of danger in this book than in many Oz books, with the characters up against two monsters, a band of unfortunately stereotypical gypsies, and several other threats. Most of these dangers are rather easily overcome, though, so I doubt the book would come across as scary. This book also gives us some history of the Munchkin Country of Oz. Overall, this is one of the best Oz books, and well worth reading to anyone who enjoys the series.

Rating:
Summary: Good character development
Review: Not only is this book suspenseful and funny, it also features more detailed character development than is usual in the Oz books as Thompson develops the friendship between Ojo--whom we first met in Baum's "The Patchwork Girl of Oz"--and a bandit named Realbad. Recommended.